I am guessing many of you have seen the news about this accident, although I have my doubts that it purely was an accident.

The BBC has an article well worth a look at;

Click Here to View Artcile

Sam

• RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,jerryrosie, 15:39z, 01-06-02
• RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,Tom Hayward, 16:59z, 01-06-02
  • RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,TD, 13:43z, 01-07-02
• RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,Ben Chiu, 22:08z, 01-08-02
  • RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,Gunner, 00:21z, 01-09-02
    • RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,Madape, 12:40z, 01-09-02
• RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,DylanK, 06:10z, 01-09-02
  • RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,TD, 07:37z, 01-09-02
    • RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,DylanK, 20:16z, 01-11-02
      • RE: Florida Crash - On Purpose?,jonahbird, 23:42z, 01-11-02

>>although I have my doubts that it purely was an accident.<<

I share your views. There is no way that kid could have NOT seen that building in time to avoid it. My bet is on a suicide that he wanted to be as spectacular as possible. A good phychological post mortum is in order, I'd say....

***Reality - the refuge of those who can't handle simulation***
Cheers, Jerry (N94)

The local news here in Colorado actually had quite a few reports on small planes crashing. The Florida crash, Puerto Rico, Boulder, California.
I was beginning to wonder at the 15 year old in Florida too. There are ample area's in Tampa to ditch the plane into the bay, and not a building. Unless he thought he was just going to "buzz" the building, and due to poor skills, hit it, he knew he was going to crash.
In any case, the local authorities would do well to investiage and look for any diaries he may have kept

_________________
Thomas S. Hayward

>The local news here in Colorado actually had quite a few
>reports on small planes crashing. The Florida crash,
>Puerto Rico, Boulder, California.
> I was beginning to wonder at the 15 year old in Florida
>too. There are ample area's in Tampa to ditch the plane
>into the bay, and not a building. Unless he thought he
>was just going to "buzz" the building, and due to poor
>skills, hit it, he knew he was going to crash.
> In any case, the local authorities would do well to
>investiage and look for any diaries he may have kept
>
>
>
>_________________
>Thomas S. Hayward

There is an average of 5 planes crashing each and every day. Most of them are small, GA type, with the occasional large one to make the news headlines. A lot of them are the result of, sadly, pilot error; sadly some of those errors include just getting behind the yoke in the left-hand seat.

My guess is that the kid, having been described as "quiet" and "nice" by neighbours, with a reputation of keeping to himself according to some news reports, and brand new to a very large high school... Draw your own conclusions.

"TD - VFAA investigators are on line 2, AGAIN!!!"

It's been a few days after the "crash." So far, I'm amazed that there hasn't been any knee jerk reactions yet. Have cooler heads prevailed?

What scares me is the liklihood that this obviouly very troubled teen had access to a computer (like most teens today), and that computer had some version of FS on it (like many computers belonging to people interested in aviation). I just hope the media learned that pointing fingers at a piece of software as being the cause or accessory to these insane acts is really stretching things.

Ben

>> So far, I'm amazed that there hasn't been any knee jerk reactions yet. Have cooler heads prevailed? <<

No cooler heads, at least not on Fox News last night (Monday) and here locally in Jacksonville. I've seen "anchors" interviewing supposedly knowledgeable people, including the owner of the flight school in St. Pete. The "main question" seems to be "How could a 15 year old possibly get the keys to something as dangerous as an airplane...? Surely the FAA will have to mandate changes in procedure so that can't possibly happen again?" There have also been numerous expressions of amazement that a "child as young as 15 could be allowed to fly something as complex as an airplane".

<heavy sigh>

-= Gunner =-

<<"How could a 15 year old possibly get the keys to something as dangerous as an airplane...?>>

After 4 hours with my instructor (I was only 15) I was allowed to have the keys (well they actually left all the keys in the club aircraft, but you needed a PIN number to get fuel into them), and do pre-flight checks, engine start, power check, then my instructor would join me.

Sam

I've been following the news on the whole incident for a few days.. I guess most of you have seen the news,the whole suicide note and sympathy for Bin Laden Deal...I really don't know how someone can get so clouded that they can start beleiving in everything we're against... Been reading some articles.. I just hope they don't try to put some more restrictions on GA. I guess we're just the part of the aviation community that can get pushed around.. Hope everyone has a good day.
-Dylan

>>JANUARY 08, 19:30 ET
Fla. Pilot Took Controversial Drug

By VICKIE CHACHERE
Associated Press Writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A 15-year-old student pilot who killed himself by crashing an airplane into a skyscraper was prescribed an acne medication whose links to suicide and depression have been the subject of federal inquiries, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

A prescription for Accutane, used to treat severe acne, was found at the home of Charles J. Bishop, Pinellas County Sheriff's Maj. Sam Lynn said.

``We are aware that he had a prescription,'' Tampa police spokeswoman Katie Hughes said. ``We don't know if he was taking it, how long ... We don't know those details.''

Calls to Bishop's family were not returned Tuesday.

The Food and Drug Administration says 147 people taking Accutane, which affects the body's central nervous system, either committed suicide or were hospitalized for suicide attempts from 1982 to May 2000.

There has yet to be any conclusive evidence, however, that the drug causes depression or suicide, and the manufacturer maintains it is safe. <<

There you have it. Kid was depressed about bad skin. God knows how many times when a whitehead or pimple flairs, the first thought thru a teenager's head is, "hey, I can show everyone who called me "pizzaface', I'll just fly a plane into the side of a building. That'll show them. They won't think I am a dork then..."

Sheeeeesh.

"TD - Virtual FAA investigators are on line 2, AGAIN!!!"

Not Sure.
I was on acutaine during my early flight training, it never affected me that way, even though it might make you feel "down" flying is a way to feel great about yourself and what you're doing. I think there was something more then getting picked on or Acutaine that lead to what he did.
Just my 2 cents.
-Dylan

A tragic case of
"Keep down; you've been spotted"